What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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NOTE: TO ENLARGE PHOTO, CLICK ON SAME - If using Firefox also click f11 - photos will fill the screen ...... ----------------------------------- ......TRANSLATION BUTTON AT TOP OF LEFT COLUMN!

Iceberg Spotting St Carols,Newfoundland - II



The bottom photograph is of the ground cover - beautiful and fragile - that we were crossing to approach the shoreline of French Bay, so we kept to the ever present rock out-croppings as much as we could.  The photos of Carol and I are some of the few tourist mug shots that we did on the trip (and I am glad we did do a few).

Saved From Destruction

12 April 2013
This glorious oak was miraculously saved from destruction when the multi-lane highway was suddenly given a wide middle for a reverse direction loop.  So whether providentially or purposely it still stands giving many a motorist a feeling of grandeur of life.

Tree Trimmers Working Hard On Black Hill Lane - II

The bucket man moves to a new position


then in position the bucket-man becomes the saw-man and sends the pine saw-dust flying in a cloud of spray

With the slight lean of the tree aiding, the almost sawed through chunk of trunk succumbs to a slight shove
10 April 2013                    - and down it goes!!!

There Is Always A Beautiful Scene

11 April 2013
I had been to visit my mom who now resides in the Alzheimer's ward of a local rehabilitation center and as I walked toward my truck in the parking area as I headed back to home, the  large tree silhouetted against the sky and framed by opening blossoms on what I believe are crab-apple trees just drew my eye.  In a few weeks this same scene will be in full leaf with blossoms gone and this mystical view will then await another year.

Tree Trimmers Working Hard On Black Hill Lane

Parking my pick-up out by the mailboxes,  I get a nice photo of the high-bucket guy taking out trees from the top

A close-up as he moves to a new location


10 April 2013  -  and here the saw man in the bucket saws another whack of tree-top
NOTE:  another set or so of tree trimmer photos will go up later today or tomorrow!